Colonel Billy L. Skipworth

Colonel Billy L. Skipworth was born December 12, 1928 in Van Alystyne Texas.

Colonel Billy L. Skipworth began his military career as an Aviation Cadet in November l950 and received his Commission in December l95l.  He served first as a KC-97 Commander and then as a KC-l35 Aircraft Commander at Davis-Monthan AFB Arizona, Carswell AFB Texas, and Turner AFB Georgia.  He next served as a KC-l35 Pilot Evaluator Tanker Division, Standardization Pilot, and then Chief of the KC-l35 Standardization Branch, 1st Combat Evaluation Group, Barksdale AFB Louisiana.  In July 1968 he became Commander of the 38th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron at Offutt AFB Nebraska.  Beginning in January 1970 Colonel Skipworth began directing the conversion of the 38th SRS to an Airborne Command and Control Squadron which became the Second Airborne Command and Control Squadron (2nd ACCS).  Colonel Skipworth served as the first Commander of the 2nd ACCS.

Colonel Skipworth was Temporary Duty (TDY) to Hickam Air Force Base Hawaii at the time of the accident.  He was survived by his wife, a daughter and a son.  

In August of 1974 a new Airborne Command Operations Center at Offutt AFB was dedicated and named the Colonel Billy L. Skipworth Operations Center.